There’s a strong comparison for a former Clemson running back in this year’s class.

The 2024 NFL Draft is just two days away and Will Shipley has raised his stock extensively over the recent months with a strong Pro Day. It was crucial for him after an injury in the Gator Bowl and it’s led to a bit of a sleeper story.

33rdTeam’s and longtime NFL analyst Greg Cosell released his scouting report on Shipley and had a mixed opinion on him. He believes that Shipley possesses the skills to succeed at the next level, but it truly depends on the situation end doesn’t see him as a feature back.

Shipley fits the profile of the complementary back with his excellent running skills and high-level receiving traits, which allow him to line up in multiple locations within the formation and be a strong factor in the passing game. The larger question with Shipley is what can he become as he develops in the NFL, with much of that dependent on team and scheme and overall deployment.

However you spin it, Shipley was productive at a high level for three seasons at Clemson. He totaled 526 carries for 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns.

The biggest strides we saw last season were as a receiver. He proved capable on all three downs and it will serve him well in the NFL. That leads us to Cosell’s comparison with Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones.

There is an Aaron Jones comparison to be made (Jones came out of UTEP as a fifth-round pick with no expectation he would develop into what he has become in the NFL; He weighed 209 at the combine and ran a 4.56 40-yard dash with most of his athletic testing measurables below those of Shipley).

Their play is somewhat similar but the situation is what makes more sense. Shipley is expected to be a Day 3 pick but the numbers are that of much more especially in the ACC.

Time will tell, but Shipley continues to ride the sleeper narrative into the draft.